Clint Escamis pressed the takeover button late as Mapua University shrugged off a scare from Jose Rizal University, 88-81, in the NCAA Season 100 on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The reigning MVP made some big shots down the stretch before his teammates took care of the job the rest of the way as the Cardinals soared to joint second alongside Letran with identical 5-2 cards while the Heavy Bombers slipped to 2-5.
He top-scored Mapua anew with 19 points, including six straight points late in the fourth that took the fight out of JRU, while also grabbing four rebounds and two assists.
"Malaking bagay 'to especially coming into the game na alam naming tied 'yung mga ibang teams so kailangan naming maka-pondo kumbaga before the second round," Escamis said.
After a big first half that saw Cardinals lead by as much as 23, they slowed down in the second half of action with the Heavy Bombers unleashing a huge fourth quarter.
JRU opened the payoff period with a 9-0 run capped by back-to-back triples from Joseph Pangilinan and team captain Joshua Guiab as they pulled to within just five, 66-71.
Guiab went down with an injury, allowing Escamis and the Cardinals to fend off their rally with the Season 99 MVP scoring three straight layups that sent Mapua to a 79-70 cushion.
Young guns Lawrence Mangubat and Jeco Bancale then provided the finishing blow with the rookie guard nailing a triple before the latter drained back-to-back buckets for an 88-76 advantage.
Mapua, which is now on a two-game winning streak, will look to further impose its will come Wednesday against Arellano University.
Scores:
MAPUA 88 - Escamis 19, Mangubat 16, Hubilla 15, Cuenco 13, Bancale 10, Jabonete 4, Igliane 4, Concepcion 4, Garcia 3, Ryan 0, Fermin 0, Agemenyi 0, Pantaleon 0.
JRU 81 - Guiab 17, Panapanaan 15, Pangilinan 12, Raymundo 11, Argente 11, Benitez 4, Garcia 4, Mosqueda 2, Barrera 2, De Leon 1, Ramos 0, Samontanes 0, Sarmiento 0, Ferrer 0.
Quarters: 32-18, 57-41, 71-57, 88-81.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
